Suppression of mRNAs for lipoxygenase (LOX), allene oxide synthase (AOS), allene oxide cyclase (AOC) and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase (OPR) in pea reduces sensitivity to the phytotoxin coronatine and disease development by Mycosphaerella pinodes

Using a recently developed model pathosystem involving Medicago truncatula and Mycosphaerella pinodes, causal agent of Mycosphaerella blight on pea to understand host molecular response to a fungal suppressor, we applied the suppressor to leaves of M. truncatula and identified 151 nonredundant cDNA fragments as newly expressed genes. These included genes encoding lipoxygenase (LOX) and enoyl-CoA hydratase, which are presumably involved in jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis. Potential genes encoding plastidic enzymes, including allene oxide synthase (AOS) and allene oxide cyclase (AOC), and other peroxisomal enzymes involved in β-oxidation were predicted from the Medicago Gene Index EST database and tested for altered expression by semiquantitative RT-PCR. The coordinated expression of genes encoding both plastidic and peroxisomal enzymes showed that the suppressor likely conditions certain cellular process(es) through the JA synthesis in M. truncatula. To explore the role of JA or JA-regulated cellular process(es) in conditioning susceptibility, we used an Apple latent spherical virus (ALSV)-based virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology to silence pea genes including LOX, AOS, AOC and 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid reductase (OPR). In LOX-, AOS-, AOC- or OPR-silenced pea plants, disease development induced by M. pinodes was remarkably reduced. Similarly, silencing of mRNA for LOX, AOS, AOC or OPR reduced the sensitivity to a phytotoxin, coronatine, which is believed to act through a JA-dependent process. On the basis of these results, it is conceivable that M. pinodes has evolved a strategy to condition susceptibility by manipulating the physiology of host cells, in particular JA-regulated cellular process(es), to promote disease development in pea.     

Removal of Arsenic, Boron, and Selenium from Excavated Rocks by Consecutive Washing

This paper describes the leaching behavior and release mechanisms of arsenic (As), boron (B), and selenium (Se) from excavated rocks using sequential extraction for solid-phase fractionation, batch experiments with pH variation, and consecutive batch experiments with changes in the solid?Cliquid mixing ratios. Arsenic in the excavated rock was mostly found with the sulfides/organic matter fraction while majority of the leachable B and Se were associated with the exchangeable phases. The leaching of As was strongly pH dependent, Se was pH dependent only around the acidic region, and B was pH independent. Consecutive washing technique with deionized water effectively lowered the B and Se concentrations in the leachate below the drinking water standards of Japan, but was inefficient in the removal of As. Arsenic exhibited non-conservative leaching behavior and its movement was affected by processes like dissolution, precipitation, and pyrite oxidation. In contrast, B and Se behaved more conservatively, resulting in their easy removal from the excavated rock by simple washing and dilution.     

Single fallout particles and zirconium-95 from the Chinese nuclear explosion of 9 May 1966

Daily fluctuations of the number of single fallout particles and activity of zirconium-95 in the groundlevel air were measured at Fayetteville (94 degrees W, 36 degrees N), Arkansas, for a period of about 3 months after the Chinese nuclear explosion of 9 May 1966. We found a cyclic pattern of variations for both zirconium-95 and fallout particles; this indicated that they were airborne for a long period and traveled far. Apparently, some of the particles circled the world more than once.     

Analysis of antibody response by temperature-sensitive measles vaccine strain in the cotton rat model

Measles virus (MeV) vaccine strain, AIK-C, is temperature sensitive (ts), which is thought to be associated with attenuation of virus pathogenicity. In this study, replication and antibody response were examined in cotton rats using viruses carrying different forms of the P gene, which is responsible for the ts phenotype of strain AIK-C and its parental Edmonston strain. When cotton rats were inoculated intranasally, ts viruses neither replicated in lungs, nor reproducibly generated an antibody response. When inoculated intramusculary (i.m.), however, ts strains raised an antibody titer in all animals. This response was not observed when ultraviolet-inactivated virus was used. ts virus, inoculated i.m., was recovered from cotton rat drainage lymph nodes. These results suggest that ts virus, inoculated i.m., could replicate in the cotton rat, presumably at the superficial lymph node, and induce an antibody response. Therefore, cotton rats can serve as a small-animal model for investigating immune responses to safer ts vaccine, as well as recombinant vaccine using AIK-C as a vector for protection against other infectious agents.     

Malignant Lymphoma with Severe Infiltrative Growth into Skeletal Muscles in WBN/Kob Rats

Although spontaneously occurring neoplasms have been reported repeatedly in F344, SD and Wistar rats, which are commonly used strains for routine toxicologic and carcinogenicity studies, there are only a few reports of malignant lymphoma or lymphatic leukemia except for large granular lymphocytic leukemia (LGL) in F344 rats. Malignant lymphoma (lymphosarcoma) is thought to be uncommon in F344 rats. The authors encountered malignant lymphomas of the non-LGL leukemia type with characteristic pathologic features in WBN/Kob rats. The mean age at onset of the disease in all 13 affected rats (8 males and 5 females) was about 60 weeks. Common and characteristic clinical signs were abnormal gait with hind limb paralysis. Macroscopically, the enlargement of the lymph nodes, spleen and liver was slight to moderate. Scattered multiple white-to-gray nodules encompassed the aorta and assumed a bead-like appearance near the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Histopathologically, neoplastic proliferative changes were predominant in the bone marrow tissue of the entire body, and many tumor cells infiltrated the spleen and several lymph nodes. The most striking histological features were constant and severe infiltration of tumor cells in the adipose tissue and skeletal muscle adjacent the thoracic and lumber vertebrae. Immunohistochemically, all tumor cells were positive for B-cell markers (PAX-5, CD79a and CD45) and negative for CD3. From the results of immunohistochemistry and morphological examination, these tumors were diagnosed as malignant B-cell lymphomas.     

Time course of final oocyte maturation and ovulation in chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> induced by hCG and GnRHa

Abstract:   The question of whether the ovulation and spawning time in chub mackerel Scomber japonicus is entrained by a circadian rhythm was raised by our previous experiments. Further questions were also raised about whether the time course of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-induced final oocyte maturation (FOM) and ovulation reflected the natural time course induced by endogeneous pituitary gonadotropin (GtH). To address these questions, hCG and gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (GnRHa) were administered at two 'opposite' times, 14:00 and 02:00 hours, and the time courses of FOM and ovulation were compared. When hCG was injected, ovulation occurred 33 h post-injection in both groups, regardless of the timing of the hCG injection. The timing of ovulation in chub mackerel depends on the timing of hCG injection, but apparently not on circadian rhythms. When GnRHa was injected, ovulation began at 36 h post-injection of GnRHa, regardless of the timing of injection. These results indicate that the time course of FOM and ovulation in the chub mackerel followed a similar pattern whether stimulated by hCG injection or spontaneous luteinizing hormone (LH) surge because GnRHa induces the secretion of endogenous GtH (primarily LH) from the fish pituitary. Thus, it is concluded that the time course of hCG-induced FOM and ovulation in chub mackerel follows the natural time course induced by endogenous pituitary LH.     

Spawning frequency of the Tsushima Current subpopulation of chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> off Kyushu,Japan

Female Japanese chub mackerel Scomber japonicus of the Tsushima Current subpopulation were collected during the spawning season from March to May 2001. A total of 137 adult females were caught between midnight and daybreak. A considerable number of fish displayed new postovulatory follicles (POF), whereas there was no evidence of germinal vesicle breakdown or hydrated oocytes in any of the fish collected. This suggests a daily spawning synchronicity toward midnight. To estimate the spawning frequency (S), the female reproductive state was classified into four criteria based on the degenerative stage of the POFs and the developmental stage of the oocytes. To stage the POFs according to age and determine the stage duration, ovaries from S. japonicus were induced to spawn in the laboratory and were sampled 0–72 h after ovulation at appropriate intervals. The average S, which is evaluated from four different indices, was 16.9%, corresponding to the average female chub mackerel spawned every 5.9 days (8.5 times) during the 50 days.     

Isolation and inhibitory effect of anti-<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vibrio</Emphasis> substances from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudoalteromonas</Emphasis> sp. A1-J11 isolated from the coastal sea water of Kagoshima Bay

ABSTRACT:   Among several marine antagonistic bacteria isolated from the sea water of Kagoshima Bay, Pseudoalteromonas sp. A1-J11 was found to produce anti- Vibrio substances. The anti- Vibrio substances were extracted from the culture supernatant of the strain with chloroform and isolated using reverse-phase (Cosmosil 75C₁₈-OPN) column chromatography followed by high-pressure liquid chromatography (Mightysil RP-18 GP Aqua). Purified substances, designated as AVS-03 a , c and d showed similar ultraviolet absorption spectra with λ_max at 215, 235, 315 and 327 nm in methanol. AVS-03 d , the major anti- Vibrio substance, was thermostable up to 100°C and pH stable over a pH range higher than 4.0, and also showed strong inhibitory activities, specifically against Vibrio harveyi strains.     

Bacterial community composition shifts in sediments influenced by fish feeds

This study investigated the influence of fish feed deposition on the microbial community of sediments in a coastal lake. Microcosms were designed to simulate the addition of fish feeds to the sediment, and physicochemical factors as well as composition of microbial assemblages were analysed. Although total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen did not significantly increase, redox potential and total sulphides showed a transition of sediment environments into anaerobic condition due to the addition of fish feeds. The bacterial community composition shifted with fish feed deposition as revealed by the band profiles of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, Sørensen's similarity indices and cell numbers of sulphate‐reducing bacteria. Occurrence of anaerobic bacteria (sulphate and nitrate reducers) and disappearance of strictly aerobic bacteria were observed with fish feed inputs. The results clarify the succession of the microbial flora and suggest negative impact of uneaten fish feeds on the microbial community in sediment and resultant environmental deterioration of fish‐farming areas.     

毛乌素沙地凝结水动态变化及其影响因子的研究

基于2002年5~10月间运用直接称重法对毛乌素沙地臭柏(Sabina vulgaris Ant.)群落林间空地的0-1.5cm表层土壤凝结水连续观测资料,分析讨论了凝结水的日变化和季节变化特征以及影响凝结水形成的环境因子。结果表明:毛乌素沙地天然臭柏群落内各月均有凝结水发生,并且可从午后持续至翌日清晨,但各月间凝结水量和凝结持续时间有所不同。5月份凝结水持续时间最短,凝结水量也最少;而9月份凝结水持续时间最长,凝结水量也最多。影响毛乌素沙地凝结水形成的主要环境因子有风速、大气相对湿度、气-地温差及其相互作用。其中,风速与凝结量间存在较高相关性,而气温能否趋近或降至露点产生土壤凝结水是决定夜间水分凝结量的一个关键因素。